Method of fence construction

ABSTRACT

A one-piece spring fastener is provided for mounting fencing wire or the like to a channel shaped support. In one embodiment the wire is mounted generally perpendicularly to the support and is free to move along its axis relative to the support. The fastener is of a generally &#34;U&#34; shape in cross-section comprising two generally parallel, spaced apart, generally &#34;T&#34; shaped members joined along substantially the entire tops thereof by a bight or interconnecting bridge portion. The top portions of the &#34;T&#34; shaped members in combination with the bight portion form a trough for receipt of the wire and the base portions of the &#34;T&#34; shaped members are generally dart shaped for nonrotational, forced receipt inbetween and retention by the inturned flanges of the channel shaped support. Projections on opposite ends of the top portions are designed to engage opposite, parallel, exterior surfaces of the support when the dart shaped base portions are retainingly engaged between the inturned flanges to prevent rotation of the fastener relative to the support.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 536,146 filed Dec. 24, 1974.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to fasteners for attaching wires to supports andmore particularly relates to one-piece, spring fasteners for mountingfencing wires to generally channel shaped fence supports.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The prior art includes several fasteners for mounting an elongatedmember such as a conduit, a pipe, a wire or the like, to a generallychannel shaped support. Examples of such prior arat devices may be seenby reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,532,311; 2,863,625 and 1,360,375.

The prior art devices were not completely satisfactory, especially whenutilized for mounting fencing wire to fencing supports, as the devicesallowed considerable rotation of the wire relative to the support,prevented axial movement of the wire relative to the support, required arotational installation procedure and/or were not designed to berelatively permanently mounted to the support member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, the drawbacks of the prior arthave been overcome to the extent that a one-piece, spring fastener isprovided for nonrotational, forced insertion inbetween and permanentretention by the inturned flanges of a channel shaped support and formounting a wire generally perpendicularly to the support member formovement of the wire along its axis relative to the support member. Thefastener is provided with means to prevent its rotation relative to thesupport and includes a wire receiving trough extending substantially thewidth of the support to maintain the axis of the wire generallyperpendicular to the axis of the support.

The above is accomplished by providing a cross-sectionally generally "U"shaped fastener comprising two substantially flat, generally parallel,generaly "T" shaped members joined along substantially the entire topsthereof by a bight portion. The top portions of the "T" shaped membersextend substantially the width of the support and in combination withthe bight portion form a trough for receipt of the wire. The bases ofthe "T" shaped members are of a dart shape for non-rotational, forcedreceipt and retention between the inturned flanges of the support. Theends of the top portions are provided with projections which will engageand/or penetrate the opposite, exterior, parallel surfaces of thesupport when the dart shaped bases are received between the inturnedflanges to prevent rotation of the fastener relative to the support. Thetrough is of larger cross-sectional dimensions than the maximum diameterof wire to be received to allow the wire to move along its axis tocompensate along its entire length for contractions and expansions dueto temperature variations, local displacements and the like.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a newand improved fastener for mounting elongated members, such as a fencingwire, to a channel shaped support.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedfencing system utilizing a plurality of novel, one-piece springfasteners, a plurality of channel shaped supports and fencing wire.

A further object is to provide a new and improved, one-piece, springfastener for mounting a wire perpendicular to and for movement along itsaxis relative to a channel shaped support.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from a reading of the detailed description of thepreferred embodiment taken in connection with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the fastener of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the fastener of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the fastener of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a channel shaped support.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the fastener of the present invention mounting awire to a channel shaped support.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a fencing system utilizing the fastener ofthe present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the fastener of the present inventionbeing permanently installed into a channel shaped support for mounting awire to the support.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The fastener 10 of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3.The channel shaped support, or fence post, 60 utilized in connectionwith the present invention may be seen by reference to FIG. 4. Thefastener 10 as utilized to mount a wire, W, to the support 60 and thefence system utilizing fastener 10, support 60 and wire W may be seen byreference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 7 schematically illustrates thefastener 10 being permanently installed into a channel shaped support 60for mounting a wire, W, thereto.

The fastener 10 is a one-piece spring fastener, preferably a springsteel stamping. The fastener 10 may also be a molded fastener or thelike. The fastener 10 is of a generally "U" shaped cross-section, seeFIG. 3, comprised of two substantially flat, generally "T" shapedmembers 12 and 14 joined by a bight or interconnecting bridge portion16. The "T" shaped members 12 and 14, are generally parallel and thebight portion 16 extends generally perpendicularly therebetween.

The "T" shaped members, 12 and 14, are substantially identical,consisting of substantially identical portions, and thus only member 12will be described and illustrated in detail. "T" shaped member 12consists of a top portion 20 and a base portion 22. The top portion isdefined by top edge 24 and a bottom, parallel edge 26. The bight portion16 extends from the top edge 24 of "T" shaped member 12 to the top edge24 of "T" shaped member 14. The top portion 20, in combination with thebight portion 16, defines a trough 28 for receipt of the wire W. The topedges 24 of each "T" shaped member are separated from the bottom edges26, and the top edge 24 of the member 12 is separated from the top edge24 of member 14, by a distance greater than the maximum diameter of thewire W to be received. This dimensional relationship allows for movementof the wire W along its axis relative to the support member 60 whenfastener 10 is utilized to mount wire W to support 60 as will bediscussed in greater detail below. Movement of wire W along its axis isimportant to allow wire W to contract and expand compensating forvariations in temperature and the like.

The top portion 20 extends for a length substantially equal to orgreater than the width of support member 60 and thus the trough 28defined by the top portions 20 and the bight portion 16 is of aconsiderable extension to maintain the mounted wire W substantiallyperpendicular to the axis of the support 60. Extending downwardly fromopposite ends of the bottom edges 26 are projections 30 designed toengage and/or penetrate the opposite parallel exterior sides of thesupport 60 to prevent rotation of fastener 10 relative to the support aswill be discussed in greater detail below.

The bases 22 of the "T" shaped members, 12 and 14, extend downwardlyfrom the midpoints of the bottom edges 26. The bases 22 are of generallydart shape comprising a pair of outwardly and upwardly extendingsurfaces 32 terminating at shoulders 34. A relatively straight shaft 36extends from the shoulders 34 to the bottom edge 26. The base mayinclude one or more cut-out portions, or slots, 38, which will allow forresilient, inward deflection of surfaces 32 and/or shaft 36 as is wellknown in the art. The dart shaped bases 22 are designed fornon-rotational, forceful, insertion inbetween and permanent retention bythe inturned flanges of the channel shaped support as will be discussedin greater detail in connection with FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.

The channel shaped support 60 is illustrated in top view in FIG. 4. Thesupport is a one-piece structure which may be extruded or rolled inendless lengths and then cut to desired size. The support comprises apair of parallel sides, 62 and 64, a rear 66 which is generallyperpendicular to the sides 62 and 64, and a pair of inturned flanges 68and 70 exending from the front edges of sides 62 and 64. The rear 66 isof a substantially constant width, L1, and the inturned flanges, 68 and70, are separated by a substantially constant distance, measuredparallel to the rear 66, L2. Each inturned flange, 68 and 70, extendsrearwardly a distance L3.

FIG. 5 illustrates the fastener 10 as permanently installed in a channelshaped support 60 and as mounting a wire, W, generally perpendicularlyto the axis of the support. As may be seen, the shaft portion 36 is of awidth substantially equal to separation, L2, between the inturnedflanges 68 and 70. The shoulders 34 are spaced from the bottom edges 26by a distance substantially equal to the rearward extension, L3, of theinturned flanges for relatively permanent retention thereby. Theshoulders 34 may be slightly inwardly and upwardly inclined to allow forvariable rearward extensions L3 of the inturned flanges as is well knownin the art. The top portion 20 extends substantially the width, L1, ofthe support and in this portion, projections 309 engage and/or penetratethe exterior parallel surfaces of sides 62 and 64 to prevent rotation ofthe fastener relative to the support. Projections 30 may be of a barb orwedge configuration to tightly engage and/or penetrate the sides 62 and64 of the support upon receipt and retention of dart shaped base 22inbetween the inturned flanges 68 and 70.

In FIG. 6, a fencing system utilizing a plurality of channel shapedsupports 60, a plurality of fasteners 10 and a wire W is illustrated.The assembly of such a system is illustrated in FIG. 7. In FIG. 7, awire, W, is laid across the front of a support 60 which has been driveninto the ground. A fastener 10 is then placed with the leading edges oftapered surfaces 32 of the bases 22 at the opening between the inturnedflanges and with the wire, W, inbetween the two "T" shaped members 12and 14. A sharp hammer blow to the bight portion 16 will cause thetapered surfaces to resiliently deform inwardly as the top portion 20 isdriven towards the support. At such time as the bottom edge 26 of thetop portion 20 contacts the forward ends of the flanges, 68 and 70, thetapered surfaces will at least partially clear the flanges andresiliently return to an undeformed position and shoulders 34 willengage the inward ends of the flanges permanently installing thefastener 10 to the support 50 (see FIG. 5). The terms "permanentlyretaining" and "permanently installing" as used herein mean retained ina manner which will not, under ordinary circumstances, allownon-destructive removal.

As may be seen in FIG. 6, the ends 80, of the wire W are rigidly fixed,at a desired tension, to end supports, such as 34. The end supports may,of course, be one or more of the channel shaped supports 60. In the caseof a continuous, closed fence, both ends of the wire may be rigidlyfixed to the same end support.

Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with acertain degree of particularity, it is understood that the presentdisclosure of the preferred form has been made by way of example onlyand that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangementof parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and thescope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:
 1. A method for assembling a fence comprising the steps of:a.providing at least one end support for each end of the fence; b. fixingsaid end supports at each end of the planned fence; c. providing aplurality of cross-sectionally channel shaped fence posts, said postscomprising a pair of generally parallel side walls, a rear wallextending perpendicularly inbetween said side walls and a pair ofinturned flanges extending from the front edges of said side walls; d.fixing said fence posts at approximately equally intervals inbetweensaid supports; e. providing at least one strand of fencing wire ofsufficient length to extend the length of the fence, said fencing wirestrand being of a predetermined maximum diameter; f. fixing at least oneend of the fence wire strand to at least one of the end supports withthe remainder of the wire extending along the line of fence posts; g.lying the wire across the forward edges of the inturned flanges of thepost at the desired axial location of the post; h. providing a pluralityof one-piece fasteners for mounting the wire generally perpendicularlyto the posts, said fasteners adapted for mounting said strand formovement along the axis of the strand relative to the posts, sadfasteners being of generally "U" shaped cross-section comprising a pairof substantially flat, generally parallel, generally "T" shaped membersjoined along substantially the entire tops thereof by a bight portion,said "T" shaped members comprising a top portion which in combinationwith the bight portion forms a trough of larger dimension than saidmaximum diameter for receipt of the strand and a dart shaped baseportion adapted for forceful insertion inbetween and permanent retentionby said inturned flanges; and i. installing said fasteners to said postsby placing said dart shaped bases at the opening between the inturnedflanges, with the strand received between the "T" shaped members, andthen sharply striking the bight portion to force said dart shaped baseportion between said inturned flanges.
 2. The method of claim 1including the additional step of:j. drawing the free end of the strandto a predetermined tension and then fixing the free end to a support.